hellebore
[ hel-uh-bawr, -bohr ]
/ ˈhɛl əˌbɔr, -ˌboʊr /
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noun
any of numerous plants of the genus Helleborus in the buttercup family, several of which, as the Christmas rose, are cultivated for their foliage and clusters of flowers as well as their tolerance of shade: all Helleborus species are toxic.
any of several poisonous or medicinal substances extracted or prepared from these plants.
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Origin of hellebore
First recorded before 1000; Old English elleborum, from Latin (h)elleborus, (h)elleborum, reinforced by Old French ellebre, elebore, Middle English el(l)ebre, eleure, or directly from Medieval Latin eleborus, from Greek (h)elléboros; further origin uncertain
Words nearby hellebore
hellbox, hellbroth, hellcat, helldiver, Helle, hellebore, helleborein, helleborin, helleborine, Hellen, Hellene
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for hellebore
hellebore
/ (ˈhɛlɪˌbɔː) /
noun
any plant of the Eurasian ranunculaceous genus Helleborus, esp H. niger (black hellebore), typically having showy flowers and poisonous partsSee also Christmas rose
any of various liliaceous plants of the N temperate genus Veratrum, esp V. album, that have greenish flowers and yield alkaloids used in the treatment of heart disease
Word Origin for hellebore
C14: from Greek helleboros, of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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